Master Key
- May 17, 2024
- Achromi
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Master Key" is an item-based exploration game with a dense world, filled with ferocious enemies, shops, weapons, and powerups. Discover secrets and dungeons across 5-20 hours of content, with no language support and minimal guidance. This game is a tribute to hiking and exploration, encouraging players to forge their own path through its story.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Master Key captures the classic Zelda feel with its nostalgic gameplay, exploration, and puzzle design, reminiscent of Gameboy titles.
- The game features a charming 1-bit art style and a fantastic soundtrack, enhancing the overall experience of exploration and discovery.
- There are numerous secrets and collectibles to find, encouraging players to explore every nook and cranny of the expansive world.
- Combat can be frustrating due to hitbox issues and the tankiness of enemies, making encounters feel tedious at times.
- The lack of guidance and text can lead to confusion, as players must rely on visual cues and experimentation to progress.
- Some players may find the game overly challenging, especially in the later stages, which can detract from the enjoyment of exploration.
- graphics28 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming 1-bit art style that pays homage to classic Game Boy titles, featuring a customizable two-color palette. While the minimalistic visuals can sometimes make navigation challenging due to blending elements, they are praised for their cleanliness and well-executed animations, contributing to a nostalgic and engaging gameplay experience. Overall, the aesthetic is well-received, with many players appreciating the depth of exploration and puzzle-solving it supports despite its simplicity.
“I'm honestly pretty amazed at how well the developer was able to pull off the '1-bit' art style.”
“The 1-bit graphics are really well executed and the world and dungeon design is great.”
“The simple but adorable pixel art works very well, the bright and whimsical music has been stuck in my head and the aforementioned secrets and paths I've gotten to explore so far, all add up to this being one of the best games I've played in a long time.”
“The graphics are simple--only two colors (although the palette is customizable).”
“I thought I'd enjoy the 8-bit Zelda homage part in theory but did not in practice, particularly with the difficult visibility at times due to the black and white art style and the surprisingly tanky enemies that made the combat feel a bit clunky for me.”
“Although the black and white graphics are sometimes hard to read, the art style is charming.”
- music21 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its excellent chiptune soundtrack, which evokes nostalgia reminiscent of Game Boy titles and enhances the overall gameplay experience. Composed by Noé Guiton, the soundtrack effectively conveys emotion and captures the adventurous spirit of classic 2D games, with many tracks being memorable and enjoyable. Overall, the music is described as charming, well-crafted, and a significant highlight that complements the game's pixel art and exploration elements.
“The gameplay is very fluid and well-tuned, the music spectacular, and it feels like every screen hides a secret or two.”
“The composer absolutely nailed the fun, adventurous spirit of a 2D Zelda game, and I've found multiple of the songs stuck in my head.”
“The talent of Noé Guiton is demonstrated in every facet of Master Key, whether it's a happy and simple tune for a sleepy town, or a thought-provoking secret place that you stumbled upon, or even the hoppy-yet-anxious tune of a humid swamp-- Noé Guiton's mastery of composing is the perfect pair for Master Key in every sense of the word, that you'll want to hum along to the music as you play-- I certainly did.”
“The music.”
“The music in Master Key, composed by Noé Guiton, is phenomenally scored and the absolute best choice that Achromi could have chosen for this robust and vibrant world he created.”
“The music is also very endearing and well crafted, which reinforces the appeal.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its fluidity, depth, and engaging mechanics, featuring a vast open-world filled with secrets, clever puzzles, and a nostalgic aesthetic. While the graphics are described as limited yet charming, the overall experience is enhanced by a spectacular soundtrack and rewarding exploration. However, some players noted issues with boss fight mechanics and a lack of clarity in certain gameplay elements later in the game.
“The gameplay is very fluid and well-tuned, the music spectacular, and it feels like every screen hides a secret or two.”
“Satisfying gameplay, rewarding exploration and puzzle-solving, and an appealing Game Boy aesthetic with an excellent matching soundtrack to boot.”
“As I said above, the bosses have incredible design, but it was slightly worsened by how long the fights were, how much damage their simple attacks do, the lack of healing spawned by mechanics of the fight, and how hard it was to predict/dodge a small amount of their attacks.”
“Towards the second half of the game, there were some mechanics that I wish were explained, such as destroying trees and dungeon walls, and swimming up waterfalls.”
“Puzzles are clever, mechanics are straightforward but used in interesting ways, and although the black and white graphics are sometimes hard to read, the art style is charming.”
- grinding7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to the need to farm money for key items and upgrades, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. Combat mechanics, such as high enemy damage and lack of defensive options, further exacerbate the grind, making encounters feel exhausting rather than rewarding. While some players appreciate the challenge, many feel that the repetitive nature of grinding undermines the game's potential for fun and engagement.
“Lots of key items need to be bought, not found, which in turn leads to just grinding money, typically an unfun activity.”
“There was a lot of exhaustion in either having to kill enemies that take many hits or trying to dodge enemies and taking random hits that you then have to spend time grinding health back from.”
“You can buy upgrades for your wallet in the town, but seeing as the only thing gating these purchases is more money, I really don't see why these things had to be upgrades in the first place, since you can farm money infinitely in this game (albeit slowly and tediously).”
- story5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal, lacking depth and text, which may disappoint those seeking a rich narrative; however, it compensates with a vibrant world full of charm and exploration opportunities. Players can freely explore without being hindered by story progression, allowing for a focus on discovery and combat rather than a traditional storyline.
“It was only late in the game when I said to myself, 'Okay, I should stop doing the main quest and see what random grottos/caves I haven't gone in that might have secrets in them,' that I discovered this place, and the item inside would have been extremely helpful for progression, quality of life, and discovery.”
“- The store page doesn't lie, nothing is story gated, you can explore as far as you like so long as you have the proper abilities.”
“I don't get the sense that there's much story or lore depth to dig into, having completed nearly 100%, but it's a really meaty exploration game with decent combat and plenty of everything to engage with.”
“Since there is no text, don't expect a huge story.”
“Despite the lack of story, this is still very much a living world full of charm and personality.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a longing for emotional experiences reminiscent of classic games like Link's Awakening, highlighting that while titles like Elden Ring evoke strong feelings, they do so in fundamentally different ways. The emotional impact of these games varies significantly, with some eliciting nostalgia and others provoking tears for distinct reasons.
“I've been looking for a game that made me feel the way I did when I first played Link's Awakening.”
“Elden Ring, this is not (thank goodness; Elden Ring is a top-10 game for me, but for wildly different reasons than Link’s Awakening. It also made me cry for wildly different reasons than Link’s Awakening).”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the humor in the game, often finding themselves amused by unexpected deaths and the challenges posed by obscure puzzles, which contribute to a lighthearted and entertaining experience.
“I found myself laughing and being very amused by unexpected deaths and getting stuck on some of the obscure puzzles.”
“The humor in this game is top-notch, with clever writing that had me chuckling at every turn.”
“I love how the game uses absurd situations to create hilarious moments that keep you entertained.”
